Traders are not giving up their demands to the Government of North Macedonia regarding the announced margin for over 100 groups of food and non-food products.

The head of the Chamber of Commerce of Retail and Wholesale Traders, Lavdrim Gega, says that if the margin is set at 10%, then they will not be able to cover even their basic expenses.

"We are pleased that we, as markets, are also involved in decision-making in coordination with the Government. We have always coordinated only with the distributors of the manufacturer. The basic expenses of the markets are 12 to 15%, including salaries, contributions, rent and electricity. The factors for the problem with high prices are not the markets but the distributors and manufacturers. We also have other requests that we will disclose at the next meeting with the Ministry of Economy", said Lavdrim Gega - Chamber of Commerce.

But despite the announced margin and the preliminary baskets, citizens surveyed by Alsat say they do not feel any price reduction.

"The best thing is for the state to create its own markets, where it will offer cheaper prices, it will be a competitor for these, and this way the situation can improve. Who do you think is the biggest culprit? The markets, the producers or the distributors?"

"There is no production here, everything is imported, nothing is Macedonian. Everything is imported and probably customs," said a citizen.

"That is, the prices are excessively expensive and have been exaggerating in recent times," added another citizen.

"It feels so much, more and more expensive."

Who do you think is more to blame, the markets, the manufacturers or the distributors?

"Who knows, everyone! I think everyone is guilty. There is no common language to lower prices because it really cannot be sustained like this," said a citizen.

"90% of citizens don't feel it. What's too much is too much. Here's the coffee I bought, 157 denars. I expected a lot from this Government but nothing," emphasized one citizen.

No agreement was reached from the meeting the day before between traders and the Minister of Economy, Besar Durmishi, while the talks will continue next week. The ministry warned that it will examine the demands of traders who insist that the margin should include only 200 products and not 1 thousand as foreseen. The warnings about the establishment of margins came after the Market Inspectorate submitted the six-month inspection report regarding the percentage of profit by distributors, manufacturers and traders. As stated in the report, traders had raised the profit margin up to 30% while distributors up to 50%. /Alsat.mk/